Harvest Fest This Saturday at Morton Grove Farmers' Market

This year there is no need for local residents to travel out of state to get that taste of the rich Midwestern autumn harvest.

On Saturday, Sept. 24th the will hold its 2nd annual Harvest Fest. Apples, squash, mums, cider and more will surround patrons as they enjoy plenty of activities for the young and the young-at-heart alike.

Families will enjoy an abundance of free activities, courtesy of event sponsor Bath Fitter – Chicago North, including a bouncy castle, balloon artist RC Juggles, a pumpkin-decorating station, face painting and henna tattoos, and art activities at the children’s area. Hay rides around the market will be provided free of charge by the Morton Grove Public Works Department from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Families can also have their photos taken at the free “Pose with your Produce” booth, with professional photographer Karen Kring.

Live music from Chicago favorite Honky Tonk Parade will help welcome in the season. Master Gardener Justine Dial will be on hand at the Welcome Booth to answer any gardening questions you may have. Those that stop at the Welcome Booth can register for a free Radio Flyer wagon giveaway as well as the market’s weekly bag-of-produce giveaway.

For the first time ever, the market will host a Homemade Pie Contest at 11 a.m. Those interested in submitting their pies should bring two identical fruit pies (one for judging, one for sampling) by 10:45 a.m. to the Pie Contest booth, where six local officials and chefs will be on hand to judge the top three pies at 11 a.m. Winners will receive a gift certificate for produce at the market, a crown, a trophy and accolades! To download the rules and registration form, go to the market website, www.MGFarmersMarket.com.

The Market’s Featured Vendor of the Week is Morton Grove’s own , selling hot and iced coffees, lemonade, fresh apple cider from Blankenship Farms and more tasty beverages to go with Market goodies.

Other returning vendors this week include Boston Sharpening Service (blade sharpening on-site), the Cheese People, Annie’s Gourmet Olive Oils, Carny Brothers’ Kettle Corn, DiPPED, LAZ Cosmetics (handmade natural body care products from Morton Grove), John Bailey Honeys, LeFlour Bakery of Edison Park, , Joy n Pure Honey-Nut Snacks, Calin Nature Photography, Terra Nostra Jewels, and Benhart Farm (meats and eggs). Growers include Providence Farm, Twin Garden Farms (with their world-famous Mirai corn), Blankenship Farm and Orchard, Lyons Fruit Farm and Red Barn Farm.

As a nationally-recognized, community-organized farmers’ market, the Morton Grove Farmers’ Market hosts many local organizations each week. This week’s groups include the Morton Grove Community Relations Commission, who will be welcoming residents’ nominations for the . Each week the , as primary presenter of the market, greets patrons with a table full of coupons and information about local businesses in town. RESULTS, an anti-hunger advocacy organization and the League of Women Voters of Glenview will both have tables for patrons to stop by, learn and take action. Other sponsors who support the market throughout the season that will be in attendance include MB Bank, of Morton Grove and Avon.

The Morton Grove Farmers’ Market is located at 8930 Waukegan Rd. in Morton Grove, just one block north of Dempster Street, behind the Northwest Community Credit Union. The market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday through Oct. 15.

For more information, please visit http://mgfarmersmarket.com, find us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MGFarmersMarket or follow us on twitter @mgfarmersmarket. You may also contact Kristina Otte, Market Manager, at 847-750-MGFM (6436) or kristina@mgfarmersmarket.com.

We look forward to seeing you at the market! Only four more left in the season: Sept 24, Oct. 1, Oct. 8, and Oct. 15.

Are you going to the Morton Grove Farmers' Market this Saturday? Let us know on Facebook.